China International Import Expo 2026: what to do in Shanghai after hours

5 to 10 November 2026 · ExpectedShanghai, China

China International Import Expo keeps attendees on the show floor all day and leaves the evenings, the day after and partners' days free. This guide covers dinners that need booking, evening outings, a companion day and the day after in Shanghai.

Tours in Shanghai Hotels for these dates

Airport to National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai)

Pudong (PVG) has the Maglev to Longyang Road in 8 minutes, then metro line 2. Hongqiao (SHA) is on metro lines 2 and 10.

Metro line 2 to the National Exhibition and Convention Center.

Public transport directions to National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai)

Where to stay by budget

Budget	Where	Why
Budget	Jing'an	Central and on many metro lines.
Mid-range	People's Square and the Bund	Walk to the sights.
Splurge	Lujiazui	Pudong towers with skyline views.

Three hotels we would book

Budget: Jinjiang Inn Shanghai People's Square
Mid-range: Les Suites Orient Bund Shanghai
Splurge: The Peninsula Shanghai

Links search the nights from 4 November to 11 November. Event weekends sell out early and prices rise as the date gets closer: book a cancellable room as soon as you know you are going.

Day plans for the free hours

Built around the usual show week schedule for 5 to 10 November 2026. Session times change: check the official timetable and move the blocks around.

Evening one

Thursday 5 November

After the show floor closes: dinner and a short evening outing.

EveningStreet food tour Evening · Food · Nightlife
Soup dumplings and shengjian.
EatYang's Dumplings Pan-fried shengjian

Evening two

Friday 6 November

Team dinner night. Book early: every group in town wants the same tables.

EatLost Heaven Yunnan food on the Bund
After darkXintiandi and the Bund rooftops.

Companion day

Friday 6 November

For partners who came along and do not have a badge.

Full daySuzhou gardens day trip Full day
Classical gardens, 30 minutes by fast train.

The day after the show

Wednesday 11 November

Push the flight back a day. A full free day costs little and the city empties out.

Half-dayZhujiajiao water town Half day · Family · Low walking
Canal town with boat rides.
EatJia Jia Tang Bao Soup dumplings
FreeYu Garden bazaar (garden is paid).

Team outing

For corporate groups of 10 to 40: private tours and tastings book out first.

EatYang's Dumplings Pan-fried shengjian
EveningAcrobatics show Evening · Family · Indoor
ERA show.

Family-friendly picks

Full day · Family

Shanghai Disneyland

Theme park in Pudong.

See times and prices

Evening · Family · Indoor

Acrobatics show

ERA show.

See times and prices

Half day · Family · Low walking

Zhujiajiao water town

Canal town with boat rides.

See times and prices

Half day · Family

Shanghai Tower observation deck

One of the highest decks in the world.

See times and prices

Shanghai Ocean Aquarium.
Science and Technology Museum.

Evening and day-trip tours

Evening · Food · Nightlife

Street food tour

Soup dumplings and shengjian.

See times and prices

Evening · Family · Indoor

Acrobatics show

ERA show.

See times and prices

Evening · Low walking · Nightlife

Huangpu river night cruise

The Bund lit up.

See times and prices

Full day

Suzhou gardens day trip

Classical gardens, 30 minutes by fast train.

See times and prices

Full day · Family

Shanghai Disneyland

Theme park in Pudong.

See times and prices

After dark

Xintiandi and the Bund rooftops.

7 tours worth booking for China International Import Expo

Tour	Length	Good for
Suzhou gardens day trip	Full day	Everyone
Shanghai Disneyland	Full day	Families
Zhujiajiao water town	Half day	Families, Tired legs
Shanghai Tower observation deck	Half day	Families
Street food tour	Evening	Food lovers, Night owls
Acrobatics show	Evening	Families, Bad weather
Huangpu river night cruise	Evening	Tired legs, Night owls

Event weeks sell out. Book tours with free cancellation as soon as the session times are published.

Where to eat

Jia Jia Tang Bao Soup dumplings
Yang's Dumplings Pan-fried shengjian
Lost Heaven Yunnan food on the Bund

Reserve dinner for the nights around the event: restaurants near the venue fill up days ahead.

Rainy-day backups

Evening · Family · Indoor

Acrobatics show

ERA show.

See times and prices

Shanghai Museum.
Power Station of Art.

Getting around on event days

Metro covers everything; pay by Alipay or the metro app. DiDi works with foreign cards.

Day trips from Shanghai

Suzhou: 30 minutes
Hangzhou: 1 hour

Bringing a group?

Corporate hospitality, fan clubs, teams and families travelling together: tell us the dates and group size and we will put together tours, transfers and a group dinner for China International Import Expo.

Plan a group trip

Questions people ask

When is China International Import Expo 2026?

The next edition is 5 to 10 November 2026, following the usual pattern. The organiser has not confirmed it yet.

How do I get from the airport to National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai)?

Pudong (PVG) has the Maglev to Longyang Road in 8 minutes, then metro line 2. Hongqiao (SHA) is on metro lines 2 and 10. Metro line 2 to the National Exhibition and Convention Center.

Where should I stay for China International Import Expo?

For most visitors the best base is People's Square and the Bund: Walk to the sights.

What can we do between sessions at China International Import Expo?

Good short outings in Shanghai include Zhujiajiao water town, Shanghai Tower observation deck. See the day plans on this page for a full schedule.

What is there for kids and families near China International Import Expo?

Family-friendly picks: Zhujiajiao water town, Shanghai Tower observation deck, Shanghai Disneyland. Shanghai Ocean Aquarium.

How far is National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) from Shanghai centre?

About 17 km in a straight line. Metro line 2 to the National Exhibition and Convention Center.

More events in Shanghai

16 Apr 2027Chinese Grand Prix
Shanghai, ChinaF1 28 Apr 2027*Auto Shanghai
Shanghai, ChinaTrade show 3 Dec 2027Shanghai Marathon
Shanghai, ChinaMarathon

More Trade shows and tech

9 Nov 2026*Web Summit
Lisbon, PortugalTrade show 10 Nov 2026*electronica
Munich, GermanyTrade show 10 Nov 2026*EICMA
Milan, ItalyTrade show 11 Nov 2026*Singapore FinTech Festival
Singapore, SingaporeTrade show 16 Nov 2026*MEDICA
Düsseldorf, GermanyTrade show 16 Nov 2026*IAAPA Expo
Orlando, United StatesTrade show

Everything we cover in Shanghai